What happened
On August 20, 2004, a Robin DR 400-120, registration F-BTKX, departed Béziers for Saint-Nazaire. During the flight, the pilot encountered a storm front along the planned route. To avoid the deteriorating weather, the pilot decided to divert to the nearby Périgueux aerodrome. Upon approaching Périgueux, the pilot failed to contact the AFIS agent and proceeded directly into the final approach for runway 30. During the landing roll, a strong wind gust overwhelmed the pilot's ability to maintain directional control. The aircraft drifted left off the runway and struck a signpost. The pilot managed to regain control and taxied the aircraft to the parking area. The incident resulted in damage to the left wing and flap.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's decision-making process and the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. It was established that the pilot had delayed his return flight by several days due to unfavorable weather and felt pressure to complete the journey as he was scheduled to return to work the following day. Before departing Béziers, the pilot had consulted weather information via telephone and internet. Seeking guidance, the pilot contacted a flight instructor to ask how they would handle the situation; the instructor suggested flying while monitoring the weather, though explicitly stating that the advice should not dictate the pilot's final decision. The investigation also noted that the pilot had prepared a navigation plan including diversion airfields every 20 to 30 minutes of flight time.
Findings
- The primary cause of the excursion was the pilot's persistence in attempting to reach the original destination despite the presence of a storm front.
- The pilot's decision-making was influenced by a delegation of responsibility, having sought validation for the flight from a third party.
- High wind gusts during the landing roll exceeded the pilot's ability to counteract the lateral force, leading to the runway excursion.